Chanty 4 Report post Posted July 29, 2014 I have finally decided to formally Introduce myself... My name is Chantel and I live in South Africa. I am fairly new at keeping Zebra Finches and have been, well kind of addicted to expanding my knowledge about these little zebbies. I love all the different color mutation and possibilities. It is great reading all the conversations on this forum; to learn about everyone's experiences. I currently have 6 Zebra finches with my 2 newest additions: I think the first one is a silver, but I am not sure at all. The second one well, grey cheek, and then I noticed she has no tear marks, so the research continues! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andyn 534 Report post Posted July 29, 2014 Hello Chanty and welcome to the Forum. From your photos those birds look pretty good. I'm not into any of the mutations but I know that Orange Breast don't have tear drops so I think Black Breast is the same and it doesn't look like a Penguin either. Other members with much more knowledge of mutations will no doubt let you know I'm sure. Don't be worried about asking questions and perhaps we will see you enter our monthly Photo competition. (just drumming up business ) Enjoy!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chanty 4 Report post Posted July 29, 2014 Thank you so much! I love taking photo's of my birds, so you will most definitely see my photo's in the competition soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrMe3257 28 Report post Posted July 29, 2014 Black Breast have tear marks but there thinner than normal and if you look at the tail feathers they are either like hourglass shaped if the birds split for black breast or the tail has horizontal stripes. Welcome to the forum Chantel Stephen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emmy 528 Report post Posted July 29, 2014 Welcome to the forum Chantel Don't be afraid to ask even if you think it may be a silly question- I've asked a few of those in the past and they turned out (most of them lol) not to be silly at all and they all get answered. Love your photographs thanks for posting them. Emmy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chanty 4 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 Thank you for the warm welcome Emmy! Thank you Stephan; I tried last night to get a picture of those tail feathers hoping that I would be able to see better on the pics, cause she's still new to her environment she won't sit still for me...not that I would be sitting still if someone was trying to photograph my behind I managed two pics that wasn't too bad; Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrMe3257 28 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 That bird has the hourglass markings so its split for black breast. Stephen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chanty 4 Report post Posted July 31, 2014 Thank you Stephan, so I'm going to need a male black breast as well! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrMe3257 28 Report post Posted July 31, 2014 It depends on what for because I've bred a bb split male with a cfw and gotten three bb chicks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ozzy747 25 Report post Posted July 31, 2014 Black breast usually do not have a tear drop.....split black breasts have thinner tear drops generally. I cant see a tear drop on your bird but the tail does not suggest 100% bb so im a little confused.....other more experienced members may help.......Welcome to the forum. Scott Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrMe3257 28 Report post Posted July 31, 2014 Heres a picture of what a BB tail looks like and Im not sure if you can see it but it has a tear marking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chanty 4 Report post Posted August 1, 2014 Very Interesting... Thank you Scot, me too the more I research on the possible mutations the more confused I get. I see the tear thank you MrMe, my hen definitely has no tear marking at all unless it blends in perfectly with her grey cheeks, that's exactly why I'm so confused about her. It looks a little orange by her tail feathers. And then I was thinking; when I bought her she was in a cage with only black cheek zebra finches, maybe there is an explanation in there somewhere... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrMe3257 28 Report post Posted August 1, 2014 black cheeks tear markings cant be seen as its all black but I'm not sure about the grey cheeks as I currently don't have any so maybe other members may know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clare L 175 Report post Posted August 2, 2014 Hi Chantel, Welcome to the forum The zeb in the first pic is a fawn hen, but the zeb in the second pic, is a Black Cheek Silver Hen, Silver is a dominant dilute mutation so will reduce all black areas down to a light grey hence silver, this is why she seems to have grey cheeks, but is in fact a Black Cheek. Best to pair to a normal or fawn male if you pair to a fawn male you might get cream hens ( dilute of fawn) Dominant mutations should not be paired together Hope this helps, tried not to complicate it to much The BC Sliver hen is very nice I have one myself, wish you all the best with her. Enjoy the forum Clare Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norfolk flyer 208 Report post Posted August 2, 2014 Hi Chantel, First of all welcome to the forum and hope you enjoy your stay on here, Mutations are not as hard as people make out, just concentrate on the colours you have and once you are used to seeing your colours then move on to other colours. if you try and look at nearly every mutation it does become a bit of a minefield. You can look at www.efinch.com good photo's and good info, well worth a look, it will also clear up the BB markings for you, In your photo's I can see a Fawn hen (single), CFW male with a BC ?, Have you another pic of the BC in the flight would be good please the colours would come across more natural, Hope this helps you (efinch), All the best, Trevor Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chanty 4 Report post Posted August 5, 2014 Thank you all for your help you have made it much easier for me. Thank you Trevor and Clare; my pictures’ color isn't coming out accurate most probably due to their cage back and side board being wood, so I guess the reflecting light is making it hard to get her right color to show on the pictures. But from all of your advice, I think she is split to BB due to the the markings in the tail as Stephan said (1st Pic): Then I think she must be BC because she was in a cage with a lot of blackcheeks (when I bought her) and because she doesn't look like a grey cheek at all – the dilution of the cheeks maybe as Clare says, there is another light mutation involved like silver. I got this female (2nd & 3rd Pic -middle-) with her and they are both about 6-7 months from the same cage, might be from the same nest... Sorry the pictures aren't very good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites